For information on Package Tours contact:
KSTDC INFORMATION COUNTER.
Phone: 2287 0068
AIHOLE
This
is just the place for those who love ruins - temple ruins in particular.
Situated on the banks of the
Malaprabha river, the picturesque temple town of Aihole
(I-holay) has 125 or more temples. All have exquisite, intricate
carvings that were done between the 5th and 8th centuries.
A few notable ones are:
Lad Khan Temple - (interesting name that!) the oldest temple
belonging to the 5th century.
Durga (Fort) Temple - a large place with a gallery encircling
the sanctum.
Uma Maheshwari Temple - you can see a beautifully carved Bramha
seated on a lotus.
Hutchimalli Temple - here you have a sculpture of Vishnu sitting
atop a cobra.
Buddist Temple - noted for its 2 storeyed structure.
Jain Meguthi Temple
Konthi Temple Complex
Ravalphadi Caves
Apart from temples there is an ancient fort dating back to the
6th century A.D. Mere traces of this can be seen today.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Kannada, Hindi and English.
IDEAL TIME TO VISIT: Between October and January. Summers
are too hot!
REACHING THERE:
By Road: Bangalore is 510 km away. Package tours are conducted
every
day from Bangalore during the tourist season. You can use any road
service from Belgaum city via Bagalkot to reach Aihole.
By Rail: Aihole is connected by rail to Bagalkot.
By Air: The nearest airport is Belgaum.
BADAMI
The scenery is beautiful, the history is bloody - that's Badami
for you. Picturesquely situated
at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills, Badami, was at
one time the capital of the Chalukyas. The Pallavas, who had been
defeated by Pulakesi II, later captured and destroyed Badami to
avenge their defeat. Badami was also in the possession of the Vijayanagar
Kings, the Adil Shahis, the Savanur Nawabs, the Marathas, Hyder
Ali and finally the British who made it part of the Bombay Presidency.
Badami has four rock cut cave temples, the largest being the third
cave dedicated to Vishnu. Overlooking the temples is a reservoir
with its bank dotted with temples of the 6th and 7th centuries.
The main attraction is the Bhutanatha temple and the museum set
up by the Archeological Survey of India.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Kannada, Hindi and English.
IDEAL TIME TO VISIT: Between October and February.
REACHING THERE: By Road: Buses ply from Badami to Hubli (128 Kms) and
Bijapur (132 km).
By Rail: Badami is connected by rail to Hubli, on the Hubli-Sholapur
route.
This
is just the place for those who love ruins - temple ruins in particular.
Situated on the banks of the
Malaprabha river, the picturesque temple town of Aihole
(I-holay) has 125 or more temples. All have exquisite, intricate
carvings that were done between the 5th and 8th centuries.
ated
at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills, Badami, was at
one time the capital of the Chalukyas. The Pallavas, who had been
defeated by Pulakesi II, later captured and destroyed Badami to
avenge their defeat. Badami was also in the possession of the Vijayanagar
Kings, the Adil Shahis, the Savanur Nawabs, the Marathas, Hyder
Ali and finally the British who made it part of the Bombay Presidency.
